Your Guide to Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Living with diabetes means monitoring your everyday health.

Keeping up with the status of your day-to-day may seem like a daunting task—but can be simplified through modern technology.

Gone are the old days of pricking, sliding, and waiting. Say hello to the advanced modern tech of CGM.

However, with all the new tech coming out, you might not know the exact details that, to be frank, can possibly save your life. When you’re living with diabetes—and perhaps have been for quite some time, then it’s pretty safe to say that you’re familiar with how important this kind of medicine can be.

So, before we get into how you can obtain CGM and what it may mean for you, we’re going to go through the finer details of this new tech and how it can help ease your everyday life.

What CGM Is:

You’re already up-to-date on the latest technology with your smartphone, wireless earbuds, and just, so much more. You have no problem upgrading your tech stock to keep up with new trends that simply make your life much easier and more convenient (three letters: GPS).

However, another three-letter acronym that can make your daily routine that much easier can also have a very impactful, direct effect on your health, too: CGM.

For Those With Diabetes:

Continuously pricking and tracking—and still getting less-than-accurate, not-so-detailed readings? Although this method has been tried and true for years, it’s time to step into the newest generation of diabetes control.

Break the cycle with Continuous Glucose Monitoring, clinically known as CGM.

CGM is a tested and approved, easy-to-use transceiver device that helps those with diabetes stay in tune and ahead of the game with their diabetes monitoring.

With easy-to-use features that can help each patient proactively record and track glucose levels—as well as giving valuable insight on data which helps manage exercise, meals, and continuous, daily health status—CGM is the newest generation of technology for patients with diabetes.

Whether you’ve been living with diabetes for years and are looking to simplify your diabetes management or if you’ve recently been on the lookout for the latest trends that can help impact your health in a beneficial way, CGM could be the monitoring system that works best for you.

How It Works

Attached to a minuscule sensor that easily fits under the epidermal layer your skin—whether on your stomach or arm—this simple system can help you keep consistent track of your health 24 hours a day.

Measuring the levels rated in your interstitial fluid, CGM takes those seemingly complex numbers and transitions it into data you can use, to help reduce the guesswork when it comes to treatment decisions.

Using the sensor, compatible with an easy-to-use, painless applicator, and an adhesive patch to hold it in place, this reusable transmitter not only is small in size but can help reduce the size of your worry and physical, daily commitment to keeping track of your diabetes.

The transmitter then is continuously wired to the sensor, which will alert you of real-time, monitored readings that can be sent directly to a smartphone or wireless device.

Although you may think that these readings can be too complex for you to understand—rest assured that the data can be read and understood by even the youngest of diabetes patients.

What’s Included

Although what is included in the CGM can differ from system to system, you can generally expect a system to include a sensor, as well as a monitoring device.

A few points where the system may differ from brand to brand or edition to edition can be on whether or not the system needs to be used with (fewer) but finger pricks nonetheless. Some systems are developed enough to eliminate them altogether but a few still include the method in some cases.

The other difference can be the accessibility of the readings. Some available systems connect directly to a smartphone, tablet, and computer and some need a particular software or interface to be able to have access to the data. Some are even compatible with just an app!

Are You Ready to Make the Switch?

If you’ve been suffering from a range (excuse our pun) of blood sugar highs and lows, managing your diabetes doesn’t have to be a roller coaster (of emotions and blood sugar).

Living with diabetes doesn’t have to be complicated.

If you deal with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, gestational diabetes, or use an insulin pump on a daily basis, CGM can be an effective change in your medical monitoring routine.

The Benefits of CGM:

When it comes to upgrading to any kind of new technology, your first few questions of skepticism normally run along the same line as—

  1. Why is this new upgrade necessary?
  2. What does this edition have that I don’t already have—how is it different?
  3. What are users saying?

In this next session, we’re going to answer these questions—yes, every single one of them!

Although we might not be able to convince you loyal Apple fans to switch over to Android, the data shown here about CGM diabetes systems can be quite persuasive.

Why is this new upgrade necessary?

Before you choose to “upgrade” your monitoring system to CGM, you have to recognize what’s “wrong” with your current system.

Although you might not immediately notice anything faulty with your device, the fact alone that you’re still stuck in the traditional way of monitoring diabetes is faulty in its own right.

Most blood glucose meters (BGM) generally only provide a single glucose reading per day—and done through the prick of a finger, which although might not be painful after a while can be bothersome and simply unnecessary.

Taking control of your diabetes means taking ultimate control of your glucose levels—which simply cannot be done with once-a-day measurement readings!

For round-the-clock, real-time, dynamic glucose information almost as often as every five minutes, you can get and stay in control of your glucose levels—and your health.

Not only is the upgrade of the frequency of measurements necessary for optimal diabetes monitoring, but also the extra information given to you by CGM that other monitoring systems simply don’t offer. For example, the additional insight into the rate and direction of change of glucose can help you proactive rather than just reactive.

What does this edition have that I don’t already have—how is it different?

After convincing yourself that this new upgrade in technology can benefit your life, you still might be a bit skeptical—how is this edition different than the one I already have?

In our comparison, we directly compared the CGM with BGM.

The main difference with CGM will have your fingers thanking you: fewer to absolutely no more finger-sticks.

Depending on the model you choose, most CGMs can reduce the number of finger-sticks used for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The user-friendly model can help not only reduce the stress of finger pricking (which can be quite temperamental with younger children) but also can even reduce A1C levels or hypoglycemia.

As we mentioned before, it will also give you more frequent readings. Depending on the model and your programmed settings, the sensor will be able to detect insulin levels and update the monitor from as quickly as every one to every fifteen minutes.

The device can also trigger a response alarm that can alert you if your glucose levels are falling too low.

A summary of distinct differences:

  1. The fact that BGMs are only restricted to be able to generate a single glucose level reading. CGM, on the other hand, can read and produce these statistics all through the day and night—collecting measurements on a 24/7 basis.
  1. With the data they actually produce, the BGM is also limited to only giving you a reading of your levels, while the CGM can give you dynamic information regarding the movement of your levels, with direction and rate included. This allows you to be proactive with your management.
  1. BGMs require a finger-stick while CGMs do not always need one—as well as being able to submit the data directly to a readable output of your smart device.
  1. The data compiled by CGM requires almost little to no action from you! BGMs, on the other hand, need you to actively take a measurement to help give you the best reading.
  1. With BGMs, since there is only one reading per day normally, the rest of the day is mainly guesswork when trying to manage your levels. However, with CGMs, that sort of estimation and guesswork is eliminated—giving you real-time data, whenever you want it the most.

 

What are users saying?

When compared to other, already-present monitoring systems on the market, CGM has been met with open arms—even from those without diabetes!

Although there are plenty of studies being done, CGM has been the center of discussion at colossal international diabetes conferences, like the 13th annual Advanced Technologies and Treatments in Diabetes (ATTD) conference, which was held in Madrid, Spain.

The 3,800 attendees which represented around 80 countries, focused on the powerful momentum behind diabetes technology—like with CGM.

Interestingly enough, some CGM users around the world benefit from the reading and monitoring technology by providing effective, immediate, life-changing feedback of their health—even when they don’t have diabetes!

According to recent studies and articles, “the technology, when used occasionally, can help a person understand their health and make small changes to improve it.”

It can also be highly beneficial for users at risk of getting diabetes in their immediate or far future, “Though the study was small, it suggested that CGMs could help identify people who are at risk of diabetes and heart disease. It also found that something could be done about it. After changing their diet, participants had improved glucose responses, according to the study.”

The Benefits of CGM:

From having access to real-time monitoring data at your fingertips whenever you want—instead of just when you need it the most—to eliminating finger-prices, CGM can offer a patient with diabetes a ton of realistic and effective benefits.

CGM has been shown to reduce A1C levels and hypoglycemia, which can help keep diabetes regulated throughout the data.

While using CGM, patients have actually shown significant improvements in the management of their glucose levels—spending less time in hypoglycemia.

CGM can also be highly beneficial for pregnant women with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. The monitoring device helps not only reduced the birth weight of the baby but also helps the pregnant mother stay in her targeted glucose range during the day and less time in hyperglycemia.

Summarized, the statistical benefits of CGM also include these PROS:

A reduction in the number and frequency of finger-pricks: CGM uses the sensor underneath the first layer of skin, which is transmitted wirelessly, right to your smart device for easy reading. This means fewer interruptions in your day-to-day routine.

  1. Less time in hypo-and-hyperglycemia: Can help new and more experience diabetic patients stay in control of their levels. The glycemic control can help give you continuous feedback on diet, exercise and insulin requirements.

 

  1. Improvement in management with stable blood sugar levels: With the frequency of readings and data, you can have real-time numbers of your glucose levels to help you manage your diabetes.
  1. More understanding of blood sugar data: Unlike just monitoring of a single reading of your blood glucose meter, CGM provides gives you advanced, dynamic information concerning the speed and direction.
  1. User-friendly status and easier management: With a simple-to-use and right-to-the-screen information, keeping control of your diabetes is now easier than ever. The user-friendliness also increases with the speed of response, giving you glucose readings every few minutes, as well as the customizability of alerts for your optimal target range.

Ultimately, CGM allows you to make the transition from being reactive to proactive—taking diabetes management into your own hands.

CGM gives you not only the ultimate control of your diabetes management but also the freedom of your health.

 

Investing in CGM for Your Diabetes Management

Although diabetes may seem like a high monetary investment, the output of that investment (as well as the data alone) is already worth the input!

When living with diabetes, you may feel pretty limited with treatment and control management. However, with the painless scan of CGM, you can now check your blood sugar without daily finger-sticks.

This simple, fast, and convenient option is not only painless to apply but accurate with a massive amount of impactful data that can help you monitor and regulate your diabetes.

CGM and Your Insurance

If your health care provider suggests a Continuous Glucose Management system to help you manage your diabetes, your EG Medicare or Private Health Insurance can be enough to help you obtain the CGM Monitor and Supplies from TryCGM.com.

After a quick (and painless) evaluation, you can qualify for your new CGM today if you have been:

  • Testing your glucose levels four or more times per day
  • Injecting insulin three or more times per day
  • Having to adjust your insulin frequently
  • Visiting your doctor at least once every six months

Fill in the quick form here to see if you qualify!

You will be in the market for real-time CGM if you have been recommended by your doctor to try CGM while on intensive insulin therapy (tight blood sugar control), hypoglycemia unawareness or are often struggling with maintaining your levels of high and low blood pressure.

The CGM is approved for both children and adults with a doctor’s prescription. Depending on the model you choose, your child—regardless of young age—can qualify to use it as young as two years old.

So, if you’re living with diabetes, on intensive insulin therapy or struggling to manage your glucose levels, you could benefit from this new technology.

Call 1-888-308-0094 today to see if you qualify for a new CGM monitor and supplies at little to no cost to you!

Who Are We?

TryCGM is a long-time company that specializes in mail-order diabetic testing supplies.

We here at TryCGM are migrating rapidly towards shifting our new and old patients to our CGM model.

We specialize in treatments for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

CALL US TO QUALIFY NOW

If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading